Seasoning Life With Salt

 “Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭14‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭KJV‬ 

Dr. Luke writes, “Salt is good for seasoning. But if salt were to lose its flavor, how could it ever be restored? It will never be useful again, not even fit for the soil or the manure pile! If you have ears opened by the Spirit, then hear the meaning of what I have said and apply it to yourselves.”  The salt that has lost its flavour is foolish and the salt that keeps its flavour is wise.  Rabbinical tradition equates salt with wisdom.  In the time of Jesus, it was common practice to put salt on the wick of the lamp to increase its brightness.  The “salt” of wisdom will make our light shine even brighter.  Jesus talks of us as the salt of the earth and also calls us the light of the world.  Let’s use the wisdom of God to be the bright lights in this dark world, getting darker by the day. But the truth of the brightness of the light shining in and through us who believe in Christ, will cancel every darkness.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never overcome it.  Let’s be wise in shining brighter with the light of Jesus Christ.  Amen!

Appointed All Believers As Kings & Priests

“The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, As the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭21‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV

Wisdom from above says, “It’s as easy for God to steer a king’s heart for His purposes as it is for Him to direct the course of a stream.”  God is the source of Wisdom.  In the old covenant this wisdom was applicable for kings and priests chosen by God.  However, in the new covenant all believers in Christ’s finished work of the Cross, are made kings and priest by the Blood of the Lamb.  The apostle Peter reminds us that we are God’s chosen treasure —priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called us out of darkness to experience His marvelous light, and now He claims we as His very own. He did this so that we would broadcast His glorious wonders throughout the world!  Even John the beloved disciple reveals to us “You have chosen us to serve our God and formed us into a Kingdom  of priests who reign on the earth.”  “From Jesus Christ the Faithful Witness, the Firstborn from among the dead and the ruling King, Who rules over the kings of the earth! Now to the One Who constantly loves us and has loosed us from our sins by His Own Blood, and to the One Who has appointed us as a Kingdom of priests to serve His God and Father—to Him be glory and dominion throughout the eternity of eternities! Amen!”

Christ’s Kingdom Come

 “It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭13‬:‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke writes, “God’s kingdom is like the smallest seed that one might plant in a garden. When it grows, it becomes a huge tree, with so many spreading branches that various birds make nests there.”  The LORD had spoken through the prophet Ezekiel “I will plant it on the highest mountain in Israel, where it will put out branches and bear fruit and grow into a stately cedar tree. Every kind of bird will find a home in it. Yes, in the shade of its branches the birds will make their nests.”  The obvious meaning of this parable is that the Kingdom of God will begin small but it will expand, grow and mature.  People from every nation will come and make a “neat” in God’s Kingdom realm.  This is what the Church is here for, to impact the earth in the way of the Lord Jesus Christ so that it keeps expanding and increasing.  It is our responsibility and every believer is called to turn many to righteousness and bring many people to the Kingdom of God and fulfil Jesus’ taught prayer, “For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen!

Nothing But the Blood of Jesus

 “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭20‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “Which one of us can truly say, “I am free from sin in my life, for my heart is clean and pure”?”  The Hebrew for “clean” also means “perfect” or “holy”; and “pure” means “clear, bright, shining, unmixed.” Through God’s grace, by the Blood of Jesus, believers have been purified, made holy, and set free from our sins. In the old covenant, they had to sacrifice every time they sinned, but thank God that in the new covenant, by His one perfect sacrifice He made us perfectly holy and complete for all time! Since we are now joined to Christ, we have been given the treasures of redemption by His Blood—the total cancellation of our sins—all because of the cascading riches of His grace. This superabundant grace is already powerfully working in us, releasing all forms of wisdom and practical understanding.  This grace of the redemption by Christ’s Blood sacrifice is only available in this lifetime, after that is the judgment for all who have rejected God’s love of their own free will.  Let’s believe in God’s love that was revealed to us in Christ.  Thank You Jesus!

Let’s Not Be Hypocrites

 “In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke writes, “By now a crowd of many thousands had gathered around Jesus. So many people pushed to be near him, they began to trample one another. Jesus turned to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. It permeates everything they do and teach, like leaven. Everything hidden and covered up will soon be exposed. For the facade is falling down, and nothing will be kept secret for long. Whatever you have spoken in private will be public knowledge, and what you have whispered secretly behind closed doors will be broadcast far and wide for all to hear.”  Not only is He the God Who created all that is seen and unseen, and the precision design of the entire universe, but He also knows every thought, every attitude, every behaviour of every human being, past, present and future.  No one can fake it, or do a presentation of public relations with God.  The hypocrites know how to present fantastic appearances without the substance, as the Pharisees did.  The culture that we live in today seems to be all about a PR exercise!  We all are accountable to God with Whom we have to do.  Jesus bore the judgment of all humanity and took the punishment of the wrath of God, willingly, suffering an ignominious death.  If we don’t accept God’s forgiveness through Christ, and reject Him, or even if we say yes to Him along with anything or anybody else, it is unacceptable to God - it is Christ and Christ alone.  Let’s not be hypocrites.  Amen!

Integrity of Faith

 “Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, Than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. The foolishness of man perverteth his way: And his heart fretteth against the LORD.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “It’s better to be honest, even if it leads to poverty, than to live as a dishonest fool. The best way to live is with revelation-knowledge, for without it, you’ll grow impatient and run right into error. There are some people who ruin their own lives and then blame it all on God.”  In this love of money-conscious world that we live in, dishonesty is the name of the game.  Impatience to get rich quick leads to stupid mistakes and gets you into trouble whereas patience leads to abundant understanding.  Such people refuse to believe the Gospel and the true riches that come by it.  Jesus said this about integrity, “If you have not handled the riches of this world with integrity, why should you be trusted with the eternal treasures of the spiritual world?”  There was one Simon the magician who wanted to buy salvation and the power of God, but Peter responded, “May your money be condemned to hell along with you because you believed you could buy God’s gift with money!”   No one can trade Jesus’s Blood Sacrifice with money for it is faith in Christ that keeps us from eternal damnation.  There is such never-ending agony and torment in the fires of hell and Jesus alone has the keys of death and hell.  Believe in Christ Jesus so that you and your family are saved.  Amen!

God’s Word is Light & Life to Us

 “The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke writes, “The eyes of your spirit allow revelation-light to enter into your being. When your heart is open the light floods in. But when your heart is hard and closed, the light cannot penetrate and darkness takes its place. Open your heart and consider my words. Watch out that you do not mistake your opinions for revelation-light!”  The teachings of Jesus are the “revelation light” referred to here.  It is your eye that is the lamp of your body.  If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is sick, your body is full of darkness.  The eye becomes a metaphor for spiritual perception.  The body is our spirit, the lamp is Jesus’s teachings.  The darkness is formed by the lies and opinions that blind us.  As the psalmist said, “Your commandments are my counselors; your Word is my light and delight!”  So we have the prophetic Word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.  Let’s know the power of the Word of God that brings God’s Light and Life into us.  Amen!

The Name of Jesus - Our Strong Tower

 “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “The character of God is a tower of strength, for the lovers of God delight to run into his heart and be exalted on high.”  As the prophets of old have continuously encouraged God’s people to trust in the Eternal One forever, for He is like a great Rock-strong, stable, trustworthy, and lasting.  YAHWEH will always guide you where to go and what to do. He will fill you with refreshment even when you are in a dry, difficult place. He will continually restore strength to you, so you will flourish like a well-watered garden and like an ever-flowing, trustworthy spring of blessing.  The epitome of trust is our Lord Jesus Who is faithful and absolutely trustworthy and He is calling you to Himself for your salvation, and He will do it He will fulfill His call by making you holy, guarding you, watching over you, and protecting you as His own, because He washed you with His own Blood and made you righteous.  There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved, only the Name of Jesus Who Alone makes you righteous.  That’s why the righteous run into Him and are safe.  Amen!

God Given Authority

 “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke writes, “Jesus replied, “While you were ministering, I watched Satan topple until he fell suddenly from heaven like lightning to the ground. Now you understand that I have imparted to you My authority to trample over his kingdom. You will trample upon every demon before you and overcome every power satan possesses. Absolutely nothing will harm you as you walk in this authority. However, your real source of joy isn’t merely that these spirits submit to your authority, but that your names are written in the journals of heaven and that you belong to God’s Kingdom. This is the true source of your authority.”  When God created mankind, He said, “Let Us make a man and a woman in Our image to be like Us.  Let them reign over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the livestock, over the creatures that creep along the ground, and over the wild animals.”  When Adam lost it to satan through deception, Jesus took it back as the Son of Man representing mankind.  The Cross of Calvary is where satan received his final defeat and Jesus gives this authority to all His disciples, not only as God but as the Son of Man, the Firstfruit of all born again disciples. God rescued us from the authority of darkness, and transferred us to the Kingdom of the Son of His love.  Let’s know the authority God has given us and obey Him.  Amen!

Kingdom of God People are the Most Blessed

 “He loveth transgression that loveth strife: And he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: And the father of a fool hath no joy. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: But a broken spirit drieth the bones.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭19‬-‭22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “If you love to argue, then you must be in love with sin. For the one who loves to boast is only asking for trouble. The one with a perverse heart never has anything good to say, and the chronic liar tumbles into constant trouble. Parents of a numbskull will have many sorrows, for there’s nothing about his lifestyle that will make them proud. A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul. But the one whose heart is crushed struggles with sickness and depression.”  Here, the gate becomes a picture of the mouth, a figure of speech for proud boasting.  People with a negative mindset, have nothing good to say about anything, having a perverse heart that falls into calamity.  Fools will bring sorrow wherever they go for they don’t think, speaking many unthought through things!  But a joyful, cheerful heart knows to rejoice even in the midst of confusion, bringing joy to those who hear such a person, for good words bring healing to the inner being.  Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, is for those Kingdom of God people, who know the Lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ and enjoy the goodness and blessings of God every day of their lives.  Amen!